Cisco Technology, Inc.

Jeffrey Antoline

Anton Okmyanskiy

Mickael James Graham

Archie Hensley

Edward Haynes

Joseph Stewart

Robyn Sands

Techniques are provided to perform location verification of a radio access point device such as femtocell. The radio access point device is configured to receive signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellite transmitters to produce GPS location data representing a GPS location of the radio access point device. The radio access point device is also configured to receive wireless signals at one or more specified channels and to generate radio environment data representing characteristics of received wireless signals. A comparison is made between the GPS location data and reference GPS location data for an expected location of the radio access point device. When the GPS location data substantially matches the reference GPS location data, operations of the radio access point device are enabled and the radio environment data is stored to be used as reference radio environment data for purposes of subsequent location verification of the radio access point device.

Radio access point location verification using GPS location and radio environment data

Techniques are provided to perform location verification of a radio access point (RAP) device such as femtocell. The RAP is configured to receive signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellite transmitters to produce GPS location data representing a GPS location of the RAP. The RAP is also configured to receive wireless signals at one or more specified channels and to generate radio environment data representing characteristics of received wireless signals at the specified channels in a vicinity of the RAP. A comparison is made between the GPS location data and reference GPS location data for an expected location of the RAP. When the GPS location data substantially matches the reference GPS location data, operations of the RAP are enabled and the radio environment data is stored to be used as reference radio environment data for purposes of subsequent location verification of the RAP.

Communication parameter selection techniques are presented to reduce interference in small cells of wireless networks. A list of neighboring radio access points with respect to a particular radio access point in a wireless network is obtained. The list includes a unique identifier for each neighboring radio access point. A set of candidate communications parameters are obtained for use in the wireless network by the particular radio access point. A prediction is made of candidate communications parameters in the set of candidate communications parameters which can be used by the neighboring radio access points. The communication parameters in the set of candidate communication parameters which are available for use by the particular access point are determined based on the predicted set of communications parameters. A communication parameter is selected for use by the particular radio access point based on the communication parameters determined to be available for use.

Communication parameter selection for small cell access points

Techniques are provided to streamline the distribution of global positioning system (GPS) assistance data to a plurality of devices, such as radio access point devices. A provisioning server generates GPS assistance data from satellite positioning data obtained by periodically querying a satellite positioning data server for the satellite positioning data for a plurality of satellites. The provisioning server assigns the GPS assistance data a configurable expiration time. The provisioning server automatically refreshes the GPS assistance data prior to its expiration and makes it available through for download by the radio access point devices.

Streamlined distribution of GPS assistance data

Techniques are provided to detect when a radio access point device in a wireless cellular communication network is operating at a location other than its expected location. Roaming history data is obtained for wireless user devices in a wireless cellular communication network with respect to base transceiver stations each configured to serve a corresponding coverage area at a fixed known location and with respect to radio access point devices each configured to serve a corresponding relatively smaller coverage area in the wireless cellular communication network than a macro base transceiver station. Radio access point devices are also readily movable from one location to another location. The roaming history data of wireless user devices is analyzed against expected locations of radio access point devices to determine when a radio access point device is operating at a location other than its expected location.

Radio access point device location verification based on wireless user device roaming history

Techniques are provided to set the timezone of a wireless user device in a wireless cellular communication network when the wireless user device is being served by a radio access point device rather than a macro base transceiver station. At a provisioning server configured to provision radio access point devices to operate in a wireless cellular communication network, a determination is made as to which timezone sub-region a radio access point device configured to operate in the wireless cellular communication network is located and selects a set of location area codes among the plurality of sets of location area codes assigned to the sub-region in which the radio access point device is determined to be located based on which of a plurality of radio access point gateway devices serves that radio access point device. The provisioning server sends the selected set of location area codes to the radio access point device. The location area codes are used by a wireless user device to request its timezone from a mobile switching center when the wireless user device is served by a radio access point device.

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Roswell, GA, United States of America

Jeffrey Antoline